Customer Reviews

Gridlock'd

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

There's definitely a lotta film buffs who watch this movie and jus' look at it as a poor cousin of 'Trainspotting' and thas' really a shame, 'cause this is a great piece of work that truly stands on its own. For one thing, the comparison to 'Trainspotting' is kinda unfair, 'cause while the two films are dealing with similar subject matters, they approach it in completely different manners, and, though I enjoy both movies, I prefer 'Gridlock'd' hands-down. The performances are all outstanding, particularly the late Tupac Shakur, who here (as in all his movies) steals the show from even a veteran an' respected actor like Tim Roth. This is a lost little gem of a film that, after five years, has sadly STILL yet to find a REAL audience outside'a die-hard Pac fanatics.

The movie plays like a black comedy. It centers around two heroin addicts, Spoon an' Stretch, both of them burgeoning musicians who have a jazz trio with their other friend Cookie, played by Thandie Newton. These three share an apartment together somewhere in the broken-down inner-city and spend most of their time playing nightclubs, havin' "philosophical" discussions about the Jerry Springer show, or shuffling around town, partying. But then, one fateful New Year's Eve, after playing a gig Cookie overdoses, an' Spoon and Stretch desperately rush her to a hospital. While she lies in a coma, and on life support, Spoon decides that its time for he an' Stretch to kick their drug habit. Thus begins a very LONG day in which the two try everything in their power to find a rehab program for themselves. But in a cruel an' unfeeling bureacracy, it seems like all the cards are against them. They circle endlessly through a series of social-welfare agencies that almost seem to be deliberately plotting to keep them away from help: They find they can't get medicards without being on welfare, can't get into detox without filling out forms and waiting 10 days, can't get into a rehab center because it's only for alcoholics, can't get the right forms because an office has moved, can't turn in the forms because an office is about to close. And if that wasn't enough to drive them crazy, they've also been mistaken for the murderers in a drug-related double homicide, putting their faces on the 6 o'clock news as fugitives on the run. Daaayyyuumn! Jus' relayin' all that to y'all stresses ME out! So anyways with local cops closely in on their tail, as well as the real killers after them to reclaim 3 ounces of heroin that the two stole from the crime scene, Stretch an' Spoon are finding it harder and harder to get clean.

The two leads, Shakur and Roth, are the heart of the movie. Their chemistry together is terrific, and their closer-than-two-brothers act is incredibly convincing. Their dialogue together, whether they're cool an' relaxed, or frustrated an' angry, or filled with remorse an' regret over how they've lived their lives up until then, is always interesting. They are real people caught up in the absurdity and unfairness of this life, which adds something I think 'Trainspotting' sometimes lacked: humanity an' compassion. Writer-director Vondie-Curtis Hall wrote the screenplay and makes his directorial debut here. He does a fine job, and seems to have a good handle on keeping the audience involved, without shutting them out by being overly-cynical in his depiction of street life and drug addicts.

I'd highly reccommend this film to anyone who hasn't seen it. If you are turned off by the grim-sounding material, believe me, you will be surprised at how human and fun it is. There are several scenes in this movie that are absolutely hilarious, in which the resentful social workers blow up at the two from across the counter. An ER nurse lets loose all her frustration an' anger at Spoon while making him fill out forms before they can admit Cookie into the hospital, and, in probably my favorite scene, a desk clerk at the department of welfare completely snaps: "Yeah, we all been waiting for the day you come through that door and tell us you're ready not to be a drug addict. After five, ten years, you decide this is the day, and the whole f---in' world is supposed to stop!?" Life is hard, the film tells us, and getting through it with all your marbles is the hardest part. Abstract as it is, I think this movie gets the message across perfectly.

When serious film buffs talk about Gridlock'd, they can't help but compare it to the supposedly better Trainspotting. Well, I've seen both films and I prefer Gridlock'd. And although I'm bias when it comes to Tupac (my favorite rapper), this lost little gem of a film truly stands on its own.

The movie is about two heroin addicts, Stretch (Tim Roth) and Spoon (Shakur) who are desperately trying to kick their drug habit after their fellow musician friend Cookie (Thandie Newton) OD's on New Years Eve. Thus begins their hilarious harrowing journey through an uncaring beaurocracy, including a rude hospital worker, a desk clerk with a short temper... and the list goes on and on. Not only that, but Stretch and Spoon have to get into a detox center before they're captured by the police who think they've committed a drug-related double homicide, when in actuality, the real murderer is a drug dealer (Vondie Curtis Hall) who is trying to kill them both for stealing his dope. WHEW!

Shakur and Roth have outstanding chemistry together in this film. Both turn in terrific performances and deliver occasionally hilarious one-liners. Gridlock'd is Vondie Curtis Hall's directorial debut, so props to him. He did a very fine job. He also wrote the screenplay.

If you haven't seen it yet, I'd highly recommend it. If you read the summary on the back of the cassette/DVD case and thought it sounded stupid, believe me. It's really a great movie. If for nothing else, rent the film for Tim Roth's encounter with the desk clerk. It has to be one of the funniest moments in film history.

Before his untimely death, rapper-actor Tupac Shakur left behind a number of completed films in the can. The first to see the light of day is Gridlock'd, the energetic and enjoyable screenwriting and directing debut of actor Vondie Curtis-Hall (Broken Arrow, TV's Chicago Hope and Cop Rock).

After his girlfriend Cookie (Thandie Newton) falls into a drug-induced coma, heroin junkie Spoon (Shakur) decides to lay off the dope, forcing his comrade-in-blow Stretch (Tim Roth) to join him in detox. This simple decision sets off an exhausting chain of events where Stretch and Spoon run around town dealing with bureaucrats of varying rigidity and flee from a drug kingpin (Curtis-Hall) and the police, who suspect the two when a fellow drug fiend and his girlfriend are murdered.

Sounds like pretty heavy stuff, and sometimes it is. But like the big heroin-themed Trainspotting, the film is often quite funny, deftly walking the thin line between the harrowing and the hilarious. And the humor does not come out of nowhere and feel out of place; like life itself, comedy sometimes spring forth naturally from tragedy, with some inherent dark humor being found in what can be seen as the most serious of moments. But this is not to say that Curtis-Hall glosses over heroin addiction. Spoon and especially Stretch are seen for what they are--loser junkies--living in a dirty, cluttered apartment and getting into messes they could easily have avoided, often getting out through sheer luck alone (which results in some overly contrived moments). Curtis-Hall does add some interesting visual flair to the proceedings, using flashy editing and whatnot.

But even with Curtis-Hall's able efforts behind the camera, Gridlock'd could not have possibly worked without a convincing, charismatic lead duo, and Shakur and Roth fit the bill perfectly. Roth has the showier role, playing pathetic, dirty, and just plain wacky Stretch, and he pulls it off as well as one expects (even though his natural British accent sometimes slips into his on-screen New York accent). Shakur's more sensible Spoon is the straight man, but he is far from upstaged, holding his own with his confident, commanding presence; he truly had a bright future in film. Roth and Shakur's rapport is so natural, so effortless that you have no problem believing that they are longtime friends. It's too bad that a reteaming of the two is out of the question.

The pileup of films currently released amounts to one big traffic jam at movie houses, but the entertaining Gridlock'd should have had no problem clearing a path to box office success.

Rest in peace Tupac Shakur.

in most of pacs movies hes just one of the great actors in the movie. he never really had to carry a movie, until gridlock'd. he is one of the main two characters. i think he gives his most memorable performance in this movie. the movie is kinda sad if u look at it, about to heroin actics tryin to kick. its a dope fiends "friday" the storyline isnt very compelling. its just a feel good about fellin bad movie. tim roth also gives a very good performance. i cant say enough about this movie. for some reason this s** was very funny. there is alot of humor and fun things about this movie. get this to see pac bein a real down to earth touchable person.

JUST AN AMAZING MOVIE. pac down playes his lifestyle in every scene. one of my fav.'s because of how simple it is. this flick show's the pain and drama that faces some of us alive today. pac knew that. cause life goes on.....

This is one of the best movies I have ever seen. For a movie with very few action scenes, it keeps your interest the whole time. I think this movie really shows the unbelievable talent that Tupac Shakur had. Tim Roth and Tupac have an on screen chemistry that is rarely seen in movies lately. This is a must watch.

I have seen most of the films that Tupac acted in and I think this is easily his best performance, anyone who thinks he can't act should definetely watch this. In fact it is credit to both Tupac and Tim Roth that I have given this film 4 stars as very little actually happens in the film, it is basically just a day in the life of two drug addicts, trying to kick the habit.

After their band member and shared lover has an overdose at the start of the film, the two main charaters run around town trying to get enrolled on a detox program. Everywhere they go though they are prevented from doing so by various problems and they are given the run around all over town. Meanwhile they unwittingly end up as the main suspects in a drug related murder, and they are also chased by drug dealers whose stash they unknowingly took. By the end of the film the plot is cleverly linked together, and the film is at times very funny.

I would urge people to watch this film to see great performances by both Tim Roth and Tupac, and though there is little action in the film, their performances and a clever script make this an enjoyable film.

With a decent plot and very little in the way of action, it is amazing that this film works so effectively. Basically a day-in-the-life tale following the misfortunes of two drug addicts, Spoon (Tim Roth) and Stretch (Tupac Shakur) as they desperately try to kick heroin habits and avoid the unfortunate attention of a local gangster.

The dialogue is quick and funny, and the two leads are very impressive. Shakur is a true revelation and Roth does his usual swaggy/cool style even with his character's boundaries. The film tries to be moral at times, but due to the comedy - just isn't. With a great soundtrack and a live performance at the end from the rapper himself, Gridlock'd succeeds magnificently.

Tim Roth And Tupac Amaru Shakur Are Just Kicking It In This Movie! There No Doubt About It, Tupac Will Be Missed Both As A Rapper And As An Actor.

this is dark comedy at its finest... rapper Shakur and Pulp Fiction's Roth are great together... the dialog is very funny. This is definitely worth adding to your collection.